Being too Defensive...

I was talking to this pakcik when I was in a cab the other day (I was in JB so I did not have my car) and we ended up talking about cars... Of which I brought up Top Gear. Well, I consider Top Gear to be the very best car show currently available and I really enjoy the topsy-turvy no holds barred comedic atmosphere of the show.

However, at the mention of Top Gear, this pakcik's eyes darkened and started ranting about the evilness of western television etc. etc. and that they are out to get the ordinary Malaysians by parodying our cars. I was quite surprised actually - what in the world could this man be so angry with Top Gear?

So I went back home and looked it up on the Internet - and I found this...



It seems that this pakcik has not gotten over the above video, where Jeremy Clarkson destroyed a Kelisa. It was picked up by people in parliament in KL (both opposition members and government backbenchers) - and the house broke out in indignant anger at this slight in Malaysian pride - and created a furious firestorm in Malaysian media. And this furore has propagated to this day (4 years later).

I am actually aghast at this misplaced 'national' pride. Are Malaysians that un-self confident that a small parody on the (2nd) national car can cause such anger? Are we that blinded by the fact that Clarkson may be correct on a few counts that it is not that great a car? The fact of the matter is that Clarkson have blown up many cars before and since (including local British cars) and will continue to do so for its entertainment value. Why must we Malaysians have such a low esteem that we rise up in anger over it? Isn't this a serious case of 'Telinga Ringan'? And why must politicians on both sides rile up the situation so much so that some ordinary Malaysians still harbour ill will to a TV show produced half a world away?

I would want the politicians we elect to focus on our own important local issues than to meddle in the entertainment industry - and as a result made Malaysians the laughing stock of the world (some blogs even started to paint our reaction in a similar vein as Kazakhstan vs Borat). In the end it is a comedy. Period. Our politicians should rather focus in ensuring ordinary Malaysian's ability to continue to afford our Kelisas, our Mamak Food and our livelihood.

It may have been four years since that uproar - and Malaysia has since moved forward in our automotive industry. We now have our own (Britain based) F1 team and I seriously hope that we have matured as well - so much so that Malaysian pride is not so thin a veil that it is so easily injured and torn apart.

I am proud of my country - and no amount of parody can injure it - even though I am not blind to its faults and I am Malaysian - more Malaysian than Mr. "Shit 3 times". And to set the record straight about Top Gear, I look further back and found this...

Full of Shit...

I love the way Ibrahim Ali promotes his view... Three times more shit than necessary for intelligent discussion. But then who says he is intelligent. Pakatan needs to find people of more suitable caliber to stand (even as independents)... since he just seems like an uneducated shit obsessed moron.

I can only think of 1 suitable reply to him - both for the standard of English and his shit obsession...

Stupid Cows...

Was reading about the idiot Kepala Lembu protests in Shah Alam...

I just have 1(Malaysia) thing to say about the entire thing. The fault lays on BOTH side of the political divide - on the side of BN and Utusan for formenting this simmering racial tension - on the PR side, PAS for coming up with the ridiculous alcohol issue!

No alcohol in Muslim majority areas? When will it stop? The Cowheads are already saying No Hindu Temple in Muslim Majority Section 23 (or is it 22) of Shah Alam! What is next? No church in muslim majority areas? what else????

Where does it stop? No non-muslims in muslim majority Malaysia?

THIS HAS GOT TO STOP! We are 1 nation, 1 people! As it is being said by 1Malaysia! Time to step up to the plate, O politicians on both sides!

Stop dividing us! Unite Us! or there may be no country left!

Professionalism...

I quote

"Is that professional? He (Koh) is the state BN chief and he severed ties with Umno, how can he perform (his duty) like that? Who is acting emotionally now?"

Professionalism?
Ask this monkey below if what he did was ultra professional?

Idiot in Penang...

I was initially very angry at the comments of a certain idiot from Flaghill in Penang...

Then I realised - there is no point being angry.

If a person pees on the pavement in front of your home - you have every right to be angry!
But if a dog pees on the same pavement - you don't get angry - its just a dog, probably a mongrel, a paria imported from the south pacific islands...

So - that is the spirit!
He is just a paria pendatang dog...

Children...

Heard about the protests at a forum last week...

One comment...

Grow up you barbarians, or go back to your jungle and let the rest of us get on with civilisation...

Greetings & Solicitations...

"先生，你好!"

Forewarned about talking to weird people on the street - I mumbled
"Don't know Chinese"
"Ohh.... Gurls u wan? Good good gurls! Top Top Qwalitee - local ones"

I walked away...
Repeat this three times in the span of 5 minutes... *sigh*

This is Nanjing Road East - Shanghai...

...Almost Shanghai-ed!

Today was an eventful morning - when we were rushing from the airport hotel to the airport to catch the flight to Shanghai.

This is the reason why I think that considering China a great country is a bit premature. Take for example our incident in the morning.

Arriving early for check-in and after lining up for 20minutes, we were served by this woman at the check-in counter. She directed us to another counter for check-in. This is when I sense the falling sandbag.

There was this lady who duly informed me in her half-baked engrish that the ticket is not valid as we did not reconfirm with them. RECONFIRM? Why? This is an issued e-ticket that clearly state that it is CONFIRMED & RESERVED. The paper happen to mention it 3 times!

So WTF?
Arguing about 10 minutes later, the rather un-apologetic woman was hereby demanded by us to see their supervisor. 10 minutes later - still no word. Here we are stranded at the airport without a flight to make it to a meeting in 4 hours (the flight takes 2 hours) with the next flight departing way too late to get us there in in (it departs 2 hours later. 2+2 = 4 hours plus travelling time is way too late)

So i went further on the offensive - and finally after a 30minute ordeal, we finally got on the plane. But by then it was less than 20 minutes for the flight and the baggage is close. So we rushed across to the oversized baggage counter to get it in - quite a long distance - making it on the minute that service is closed for the flight. Then with 10 minutes remaining - it was the mad rush thru security and to a gate verily 500+ meters away!

So in the end we made it - but I carry away a distinct feeling that one of the premier airlines i.e. China Southern nearly shanghai-ed us - either by sheer incompetence or stupidity...

It appears that the much vaunted China - does have its incompetent side... and have a long long long way to catch up. Even with Malaysia...

Sleepless in Canton...

It has been a hectic week of work work work and sick sick sick.
*sigh* *grin*

Well, it is official - I have not really slept for the past 48 hours - except 3 hours of cough wrecked sleep on Saturday night and a turbulence filled 2.5 hours on the cramped seat of an airplane.

So right now I find myself unable to go to sleep - even in a quiet hotel room in off Guangzhou. My mind is just racing around, from matters at work, matters with colleagues, leftover matters from that especially time consuming last minute causing me not to be able to sleep project, matters of what the hell I am supposed to do for the next four days as I proceed to Shanghai for meetings and more meetings.

Traveling used to be fun - and it still is. The 1st look of an approaching city from the air, the tarmac of an airport I have never before ventured, the lines at immigration and customs silently praying I have not done or brought anything wrong. I love it all... However, I am starting to develop some disenchantment with traveling so much - especially for work.

I sometimes wish just to lie on my bed, book in hand with my mind in some faraway place - be it Midkemia, Arrakis, Middle Earth or Treasure Island. But I digress - probably due to my sleep deprived state.

For those who want to be in the know on my going-ons in life, I just have lunch and is currently waiting for a talk in the evening. Tonight we will be staying at the airport hotel ready to be whisked away to Shanghai 1st thing in the morning...

Oh Canton, Canton...
I hardly know you...
But for the whispers of your character...
from the elevated highway

Oh Canton, oh Canton
People now call you...
Guangzhou, jewel of the Pearl River...
as I depart from you by the jetway

On tomorrow's morn

Jack of all Trades...

The funny thing about blogging (at least for me) - is that I am not compelled to do it. I never kept a consistent diary in my life, I never managed to fully use the calendar function - be it in my phone, my pda or my pc (and mac for that matter).

无事不登三宝殿

Chinese saying - basically 'if there is nothing, one will not go to the triple treasure hall' - in this case triple treasure means the temple. It is similar to what many Christians do - not pray unless we are already suffering.

Which is why there is so much ranting on the blog :P I do not come here unless I want to vent - to rant... which is why I am up at 4am here - rambling away.

Just want to say that I am tired...
Due to my work - I have been put into an unenviable position of doing many things for the many facets (and companies) I am involved in. That forces me to devote less time to everything I am involved in - and in some eyes of some idiots I work with, this is a sign that I am not 'pulling my weight'

Nevermind the extra hours I put in, nevermind the extra mile I go...
Nevermind the shortcuts I have created, the extra effort to get things out perfect

Nevermind the time I devoted in the darkest of nights
Nevermind the crazy driving from point to point, the hours I have to stay in the office

Nevermind the personal resources I put in...
My own money to complement my blood, sweat and tears.

I am sorry if this blog sometimes sound like a big vent of hot air and fury. But heck -I am indeed angry and frustrated.

So to the world out there, at 4:09 in the morning. If I just can't please you - go stick your head in your **** and **** yourself.

Cheers!

Ancient Chinese Wisdom...

Photograph taken at the Baotu Spring (趵突泉) also known as the '1st spring under heaven' (天下第一泉), Jinan, China

It seems that even after the 'political tsunami' last weekend, the MCA leadership and its press bureau - The Star has still not managed to look introspectively at the rebuke given by Malaysians of ALL RACES...

I would like to bring you to the analects - by Confucius - considering now we are talking about the MCA...

"君子周而不比, 小人比而不周"

Written almost 2,000 years ago, its philosophy is still very much relevant in the political world today. The above line states - 'The superior man (Leader) is all embracing and impartial, while the inferior man is never embracing and always partial."

In this case it is very true - take Ong Ka Chuan who just yesterday criticised the DAP of duping voters (Page N8, The Star 11/03/08). What the DAP is doing is embracing all possibilities in a new environment - by showing itself to be an all inclusive, non-race based party. It must be a hard thing for them to contemplate a PAS MB for Perak, and they would be worried about the repercussions - but kudos to them for not balking at the possibility of an Islamist MB and allow Perak to go into disarray under a minority administration. So Mr YB Ong, be a 君子, not a 小人. Because the Chinese will never support the party of inferior men - stop wagging the dog and look inwards to rebuild the trust the people had for the MCA - for no amount of distractions can change the reality that the MCA has lost our trust, our votes for it no longer represent our voice.

Also from the Analects...

哀公聞曰：「何爲則民服 」

孔子對曰：「擧直錯諸枉, 則民服; 擧枉錯諸直, 則民不服。」

Master of Ai (Duke): How can I make the people follow me?

Confucius: Go forward with upright righteousness and set aside the crooked, and the people will follow you. Go forward with crookedness and set aside the upright, and the people will not follow you.

This should also serve as a warning to the MCA, the people have left you and will not follow you until you bring back righteousness and principles to the party. It pains me for I have once supported the MCA greatly - only to be gravely disappointed. The MCA cannot be a community club or welfare society - it is a political party that needs to set the standard of leadership of the community and bring it into a multi-racial context - ranting about racial lines will only serve to belittle the people and bring MCA further into oblivion.

In the end...

子曰：「爲政以德, 譬如北辰居其所而衆星共之。」

Confucius says: "If you govern by the power of your virture, you will be like the North Star - you will stay in your place (of honour) and all the other stars will revolve around you."

Impossible?

Its almost 5am and it has indeed been a momentous occasion...

There is a famous line from one of my favourite movies of all time...

"People should not fear their government, their government should fear the people"

I guess today we have taught our government fear...

Congratulations to all the winners of the election - on both sides. This is a chance for you all to show that you have earned the right to represent us. To the opposition, who has broken the 2/3 stranglehold - it is time for you to step up to the expectation that you will usher in a new dawn. To the government, it is time for you to renew and rebuild the trust the people have put to you for over 50 years.

And Mr Kuppusamy... I guess WE ARE ALL MALAYSIANS AFTER ALL!
P/S To the media, it is time for you to get your act together and represent the views of all Malaysians... I have posted this in 2005 and again in the last month - The biggest loser of this election is you who keep media blackouts, unfair reporting and biased editorials, You have heard the roar of the people - and the great expanse of the internet - act now of be irrelevant now and forevermore.

Plague on both your houses...

It is kinda sad to say that as elections approach, I have increasingly been feeling shortchanged - by the simple fact that I am in this electorate...

I yearn to be in the electorate in the United States - whose ideas, ideals and issues driven race - even in the choosing of the party nominee excites me. I yearn to be in the electorate of Australia, where an orderly transition from one party to the next shows a generational change... All sadly absent in this country

Choosing in this upcoming election - is almost impossible as I am now faced with the choice between the devil and the deep blue sea...

On one side is a government that has indeed brought success and development to this nation I love - but has lost credibility in my eyes - especially with the announcement of the dissolution of parliament - after outright denial that it would do so. Such a behaviour had indeed left me feel deceived.

But on the other side, is an opposition - that neither have the ability or credibility to govern. In my eyes they are neither tested to lead or show a slightest hint that they will be able to deliver except to rattle the bushes and be an opposition.

*sigh*
My mind is definately not made up - and I think so are many other Malaysians out there... so shame on the both of you...

Bone tired...

*sigh*

I really wonder what it the purpose of all this at times - all this work/activity. Today I woke up feeling bruised and battered, probably due to the absolute nutcase of activity over the last weekend.

I think this was the busiest end/beginning of the year that I have ever had. Weddings, events, launches & other challenges rolled all into one. It has made me muddle headed, a bit of a wreck and wishing to be sipping pina coladas in one of the quieter islands of the world - where the pace is slower, the sunsets beautiful and the risk of being driven mad by errant drivers minimal.

The need of clearing my thoughts - take a breather so to speak is now a primal need. I have started to mention names and products of the 3 different companies I am looking after incorrectly - and them being competitors just my life a wee miserable. I have named the wrong company twice, the wrong product thrice and the wrong leader's name at least once!

I need a break... for I am tired to the bone - but looking at my schedule, I see no reprieve... *sigh*

But you know, contradictory as it may seems, I welcome opportunities to help my friends to do things that are close to my heart. In my eyes - they are attractive little portable holiday islands that come my way... now to get that alcoholic drink to wash it down.

A Crime Story... in living daylight

I received this email today from a close friend of mine working at a company in Petaling Jaya. So, anyone reading this - especially ladies - please take NOTE!!!

My boss almost kena carjacked yesterday. She sent out an email to the entire department telling her story - as a caution to all single women drivers. It sounds damn scary. Can not imagine what I'll do if I was in her position. I've pasted her email here in its entirety. Girls, please be careful and be wary of your surroundings - bad things can happen DAY OR NIGHT - bad guys don't CARE anymore.

Here, her email:

Colleagues,i was chased and attacked by a group of men in 2 cars trying to hijack my car in the afternoon yesterday. I was driving my husband's car alone on my way back from mid valley at about 4.30pm and only noticed these 2 cars as I was turning left into jalan beringin, damansara heights. They came awfully close and fast which I thought strange as it was a residential area and full of road humps.

Then the first car (which was a E class Mercedes) came to my side and the passenger (had a policeman's hat but not in uniform) had a walkie talkie and was gesturing for me to stop. When I didn't, he overtook and parked in front of me and the second car (which was the new 3 series BMW) was parked right behind me. the guy came up to my window and using his walkie talkie again, was frantically asking me to wind down - it was that split second that I realized that they weren't undercover cops (yes sounds silly now when one is rational!) and I just reversed and drove off. Both cars were chasing me trying to swerve and corner me.

I was stopped 3 times by them - the second time was the road downhill between SC and the Science Centre and the same guy from the Merc came out - this time with a parang. I reversed as far as I could - these people were definitely professionals and didn't want their cars damaged cos everytime I reversed, the bmw at the back also reversed. I thought I'd be safe going onto a public road so I went on the sprint highway - they continued to chase and managed to stop me again- and I was on the fast lane of sprint highway (right between the SC and Bukit Kiara) and there were plenty of traffic - and this time - they parked so close to me - one in front and one at the back and the guy with the parang came out and this time was smashing with full force at my driver's seat window. Another guy came from the black bmw and started hitting on my passenger seat window - there were plenty of cars but no one stopped or honked despite seeing these 2 men smashing my car. I just reversed not caring if my car got knocked and trying to get some space so that I can drive out and finally managed to. I lost them when I turned onto jalan damansara highway.

It is absolutely traumatizing as I, like many, only read about this.. but the audacity and desperation for them to be doing this in broad daylight and at such a public place is unimaginable. I am so thankful that I am ok but I have to write this because i know many of us take it for granted that it would not happen to us.. but it has happened and it will happen again.

Please please be careful - one can never be vigilant enough. you've read it all:

1. ladies - don't drive home alone at night - they will target women driving alone - day or night.

2. don't stop when you're being chased

3. know that they're not the real cops when the proper police cars are not being used

I was given this no. by the inspector - 2274 4465 - it's the Bilik Gerakan in Brickfields and if you think you're being followed or chased - call this no. and they will send a mobile team who's nearest to where you are.

Needless to say - I am appalled by this happening - and that the fact that no one even attempted to help this lady... The least we can do is to honk or CALL THE POLICE ON HER BEHALF. SO EVERYONE - take the number 2274 4465 down or just dial plain old 999.

Remember - Safety demands our eternal vigilance... same as Freedom :)

Stupid... Stupid.... STUPID

I really don't understand Malaysia sometimes...

A friend of mine just got rammed but an idiotic driver at KM 29.9 of the Sg Besi Expressway... which is just NORTH of Putrajaya and NORTH-EAST of Kajang... But, it appears that it belongs to the Sepang district of the Royal Malaysian Police...

She went down to Putrajaya - and was turned away and SENT TO SALAK TINGGI. OMG!
Salak Tinggi is SOUTH of Putrajaya and SOUTH-EAST of Kajang... why not to a nearer police station?

This is just another sign of the utter bureauCRAPcy and red tape of Malaysia today? When will we get a reprieve?

I do have to say that I was impressed with the RMP when I made my report in Kajang over an accident (I got hit by a mosquito... aka motocycle) - I just have to wait 4 hours for my turn (buka puasa was in the way - understandable...) and got my report done in just under an hour...

Which makes me the lucky one...
At least I am not being sent on a wild goose case to tiny towns in the Selangor hinterland... we need to rationalise... really do...

I hope that one day I can report a traffic accident at any police station - no matter where my accident occured...

*sigh*

Contrarians...

Time is long overdue for me to rant about Malaysians - but this time I would like to highlight two equal and opposite incidents of Malaysians in traffic.

Firstly - its about this gentleman in Petaling Jaya. I saw his grace while being stuck on the LDP in the morning. This guy - who was driving down a side road actually stopped - got down from his car to help an old lady who was trying to cross the road carrying a very large shopping bag. He actually stopped his car in the middle of the road (of course there were no cars behind him) and help the lady by taking the bag into the lady's house. I do not know if they know one another - but this kind of behaviour is what our country needs - not the ridiculous scenario I will rant about in 2 minutes. (of course he could be robbing the old lady - but I doubt it :P)

Now, on the contrary - I present the story of Mr Chow Ah Beng and Ms Chow Ah Lian in Bukit Jalil. There was a police roadblock in front of the National Stadium. This roadblock was temporary to facilitate traffic from the stadium (due to an AFC Cup match - quarters or semis - can't remember). Now Mr Chow insists that he can go straight - even with the gesturing of the police for him to turn or u-turn. Ms Chow, with her fake blond locks and what can be best described as a 'tu-lan' face emerged from the little Punto she and her Ah Beng boyfren was holding up traffic with and started arguing with a traffic cop - which looks like he was about to pull out a gun to shoot her (too bad he did not). The cop insisted no way that they could go straight - so Ms Chow returned to her car - AND THEY DID NOT MOVE. Meanwhile, all the cars - who want to follow the policeman to turn or u-turn was honking and flashing for this small annoying little Chow Punto to move out of the way. It took around 4-5 minutes of honking, flashing and gesticulations before they deigned to move the 1 meter it needed for traffic to flow.

After I made the U-turn, I can see that traffic was backed up for almost 2 km because of our dear Mr & Ms Chow.

Amazing how much you remember about the bad - and how vague the good sounds :P

Contrarians indeed...

Of Rocks & Hard Places...

Its 2.30am and I am still unable to sleep...

Things seem to have gotten more difficult lately - and I am increasingly being caught between (a rock and a hard place) x1000 times. And this happen everyday!

Why is it so difficult you may wonder?
Why does things sound so bleak?
or rather so depressing...

All I can say is that the worst problems in this world are those that have multiple reasons requiring multiple solutions to the satisfaction of multiple parties. Most of all it means a slow and painful journey towards what potentially be a dark deep bottomless abyss...
It means that everyone will not be happy... whatever the outcome you get...

It means that you are caught between worlds... between the hammer and the anvil. Knowing that the pain and end is coming - but unable to do anything about it...

*Cracked*

Well - all I can say is that today is an eventful day... 1st we managed to get (or rather the registration and hosting of... not the actual contents) http://www.themakingofsherlynchua.com/ online but I also ran smack into the side of a wall, literally - almost surely concussing my head in some way or the other...

It was just a direct 'crack' and now I have a beautiful bump around an inch and a half above my forehead just above the hairline.... I just hope I have not demolished any part of my frontal lobe - but then... it would not make me any more insane rite?

Maybe I am just a wee bit paranoid - after consuming the entire Season 2 of House... *sigh* *ouch*

Baby on Board...

I am back... well - almost back (once again on a long blogging hiatus).

And rant I shall *grin*

It was in the traffic chaos in Seri Petaling a few days back when I noticed an amazing sight - of what is best described as an ironic parent - in a *drumroll* Kancil! (the quintessential malaysian crazy driver containing small excuse of a car)

This Kancil - proudly displaying the sign Baby on Board, with another bigger kid visible on the back seat (sandwiched between what appears to be his grandparents) and what appears to be a pregnant (or very fat, take your pick) wife, holding a baby in her arms - darted out illegally from a side road, travelled a short distance on the oncoming traffic lane and right into the small space in front of my car.

I think he should move the sign, right smack in front of his nose, to remind him that he has women and children on board - then maybe he would not be so gung-ho and trying to kill his entire family in one proud self destructive utterly Malaysian driver moment. Maybe then he can improve his sorry excuse of driving. But I digress.

I do not say that I am a saint on the road, or a really careful and law abiding driver - but the least they can do is to have some consideration to the safety of their own young families. Horror stories of an entire family of 8 or 11 in a terrible accident in a Kancil may be long and far in between but they do happen - and now I have a personal experience on how they could happen and why they happen... Irresposible parents and utter gross stupidity.

Really...